Chromatic playing attachment for harmonicas



NOV. 4, 1930. w E SHAVER 1,780,368

CHROMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR HARMONIGAS Filed May 25, 1929' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llu u u u n 11 u ||"n"| INVENTOR. ii a Vex" ATTORNEYS.

NOV. 4, 1930. w SHAVER 1,780,368

CHROMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR HARMONICAS Filed May 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uzfiahamer alter/we:

Patented Nov. 4, 1930 Uhll'iii ST TBS nane PATENT Application filed May 25, 1929. Serial No.

lnis invention relates to musical instruments of the harmonica type, and has for one of its objects to pr vide an instrument of this character on which may be performed a piece of music written in any key.

The invention has for a further object to provide a musical instrument of the char acter stated which shall embody a mouth piece, a pair of harmonicas of which one is one-halt tone higher than the other, and a valve through the medium of which an operative relation may be easily and quickly established between the mouth piece and either of the harmonicas.

T he invention has for a -further object to provide a musical instrument of the character stated wherein the mouth piece and valve shall constitute a chromatic playing attachment, and wherein such attachment shall be so constructed as to permit two dii terently keyed harmonicas to be readily and quickly secured in operative relation therewitn.

The invention has for a further object to provide a musical instrument of the character stated wherein the chromatic playing attachment and the harmonicas snall be detachably connected together so to permit the harmonicas to be removed and others in ditto-rent key substituted therefor.

The invention has for a further object to provide a musical instrument of the character stated wherein the chromatic playing attachment shall be simple, durable and etiici-enh and capable of being manufactured and sold at low cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view v the nature of which will appear as the description pr ceeds, the invention consists in the constru i, combination and arrangement of hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a musical instrument embodying my invention Figure 2 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section oi the instrument;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the NEN YORK HARMOITIGAS igure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane inoicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of one of the bars for detachably securing harmonicas to the chromatic playing attachment;

Figure 7 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating a slightly modified form of the means for operating the valveplate of the chromatic playing attachment;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of 1 ified form of one of the parts of matic playing attachment; and

Figure 9 a sectional view of such part. The chromatic playing attachment comprises a mouth piece 1 which is of elon gated formation in plan and may be made from wood or metal or any other suitable material. The mouth piece 1 is provided with orifices 2 extending horizontallv therethrouu'h and corresponding in number to the air sages in the harmonicas in connection v: which the attachment is to be used. I: pl 3 arranged at the front side of the month piece 1, and is greater 1 width than the routh piece and thereof.

3 is provided with parallel rows of orifices and 5,, which extend longitudinally thereof and alined with the orifices in the mouth piece l. The plate 3 provi led at its longitudinal edges with forwardly 1i flanges 6 which contact with a 'ed forwardly oi the plate 3 d i'l nitl: parallel rows of orifices ca ing with the orifices is provided at its one 11, and the plate i with notches l0 ant provided at one 0 its ends with a notch WillCll registers with the notch 10.

s 4L- and 5. The plate 3 he plates 3 and Y are preferably made I v o rrom metal and constitute a casing Ior a valve plate 13. The valve plate 13 is equal in length to the valve casing plates 3 and T,

and it is smaller transversely than the vs vs pern'iit it to be moved 'alve casing.

provided with a single rich extends longitudinal c position of the valve plate 13, the row of orifices 1 l registers with the rows of orifices at justed position of the valve plate, the row of orifices 14 registers with the rows of orithe base 15 from nd 1'? are e longitudinal ed es ofthe base.

The se 15 is provided at its ends with notches 13 and 19. The notch 19 registers with notch 11 in the valve casing plate 3, and the notch 19 registers with the notches and 1 in the va ve casing plates 3 and'?.

The mouth piece 1, the valve casing plates 3 and 7 and the'base are secured in assembled relation by machine screws 20. The valve plate 13 is provided with transversely extending slots 21 for the passa e of the screws and for the reception or washers 2O loose on the screws between the valve casplates 3 and 7. The washers -20 are slghtly thicker than the valve plate 13, in .ler that o ey may function to maintain the go o val "e casing plates 3 and 7 spaced sufiiciently to insure the free movement or op ration of the i we plate. The washers 20 contact with e walls of the slots 21 and due thereto 1., ilzllCLlOll to prevent any longitudinal displacement of the valve plate with respect l" A plate 15 secured .orward side of the base 15 by the screws 2' This plate is provided. with a row of orifices 15 registering with the passages 16, and a row of orifices 15 registering with the passages 17. 5

Two harmonicas ant 23, in dilferent keys, are employed in connection with the Fm chromatic playing attachment, and they are arranged with the forward ends of their air passages in registration with the lower ends of the orifices 15 and 15, respectively, in the plate 15 To prevent the leakage of air between the plate 15 and the harmonicas 22 and 23, a gasket 2%- is arranged between these parts. The gasket 24 may be madefrom rubber, leather or other suitable material, is cemented or otherwise secured to the plate 15 and is provided with longitudinally arwnich 1e vaiv e cas-' tudinal center 01 we base 0 points close ranged rows of orifices 24 registering with the orifices 15 and 15 in the plate and with the passages in the harmonicas.

The harmonicas are detachably secured to the chromatic playing attachment by means comprising bracket plates 25 which extend forwardly from the ends of the plate15 and are secured thereto by the screws 20. The brackets 25 re'provided with lnturned front ends 26, which contact with the sides of the plate 15 and are apcrtured for the reception of the screws 20. The angular ends 26 of the brackets 25 are provided at their terminals vith rearwardly extending flanges 2? which contact with the longitudinal edges of the plate 15 to hold the brackets against turning movement with respect to the plate. The brackets 25 are each provided with a pair'of relatively spaced innerflanges 28, and with a pair of similar flanges 29 The harmonica 22 has its ends arranged between the pairs f flanges 28 and the harmonica 23 has its ends arranged between the pairs of flanges 29, the brackets 25 and their flanges holding the harmonicas against any longitudinal or lateral movement with respect to the chromatic playing attachment.

The means for detachably scouring the harnionicas to the chromatic playing attachment also comprises bars 30 which extend across the front edges of the harmonicas, and coil spri'ngsBl which are arranged between the harmonicas and'secured to the plates and to a shaft 32 'rockably supported in bearing openings 33 formed in the front ends of the brackets 25. When it is desired to removethe harmonicas and substitute therefor new ones in the same or different keys, it is only necessary to swing the bars 30 laterally beyond the brackets 25, and in view thereof the substitution may beeasily and quickly accomplished. I

To permitritto be used for the purpose of moving the valve plate 13 from one of its positions to the other, the shaft 32 is proided at its ends with arms 33 which extend rearwardly through the notches 10, 11, 12, 18 and19 in the valve casing plates 3 and 7 and base 15, and through openings 34 in the ends of the valve plate 13. A push rod 35 is arranged at one end of the chromatic'playing attachment for sliding movement transversely thereof, and is provided with an opening 36 for the reception of one of the shaft arms 33. The push rod 35 is arranged between the valve casing plate 3 and the base 15, and to permitth s arrangementof the push red, the valve c'asing plate 7 is made slightly shorter than the valve casing plate 3. The push rod 35 extends'in any position thereof beyond both sides of the chromatic playing attachment, andthe ends thereof are turned forwardly to provide finger pieces 37.

The push rod 35 is provided at its outer side with a forwardly extending flange38 which contacts with the adjacent end edge of the base to hold the push rod against ti r moven'ient on the shaft arm to which it is conr cted. Ihe push rod provides means through the medium or" which ti valve plate 13 may be easily and quickly moved from one of its positions the other.

A cover 39 for the harmonicas is detachably connected to the base 15. It made of metal, and is of substantial U-iorm in cross section. The front edges of the sides of the cover 39 are provided with inturned flanges e0, which engage in rooves 41 formed in and extending longitudinally of the side edges of the base 15. The cover 39 may be applied or removed by moving it in endwise direction with respect to the chromatic play ingattachment.

Y As shown in Figure 8, the harmonica brackets are conn cted by a plate which is provided with tapped openings 42 for the reception of the lower end through the screws 20. This plate is provided with lon gitudinally extending rows of orifices 43 and i l, which register with the openings in the 15 and in the harmonic-as, the brackets being designated in this figure.

In Figure 7, a modified form of the means for rocking the valve plate adjusting shaft 32 is shown. This means comprises a fiattened push bar slidably mounted between the valve casing plate 3 and the base 15 and provided at one end with a head 45. In this form or" the invention means are provided for yieldingly holding the valve plate 13 in one of its positions, and this means comprises a spring 4E6 secured to the harmonica brackets into one of the shaft arms 38.

It should be understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that the attachient permits any piece of music to be played by harmonicas, that the valve plate normally establishes communication between the mouth piece and one only of the harmonicas, and that the valve plate may be easily and quickly adjusted to establish communication between the mouth piece and the other harmonica. and adjusted to re-establish oominunication between the mouth piece and said first harmonica.

While I have described the principle of the ention, together with the structure which I now consider to be the preferred embodiment thereof. 1 wish it understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made therein when desired, as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. In this connection it is to be understood that, while the harmonica playing attachment is illustrated and described as being adapted for use in connection with harmonicas of the single reed type, it is also adapted for use in connection with harmonicas of the double reed spaced parallel relation, and means adjustable tor establishing connnunication be tween the mouth piece and either oi the harmonicas.

2. A musical instrument of the character set forth, comprising a mouth piece provid ed with orifices, harmonicas, a valve can-in. positioned benveen the mouth piece and har monicas and pr vided with rows 0-; orfice communicating with the orifices in the ZLOUCl piece and communicating respectively with the air passages in the respective harmonicas, a valve plate arranged within the valve casing and adjustable for closing either row of said orifices, 21 rock shaftprovided with arms engaging the valve plate, and means for rocking the shaft to adjust the valve plate.

3. A musical instrument of the character set forth, comprising a mouth piece provid ed with orifices, harmonicas, valve casing positioned between the mouth piece and harmonicas and provided with rows of orifices communicating with the orifices in the mouthpiece and communicating respectively with the air passages in tl e respective harmonicas, a valve plate arranged within the valve casing and adjustable for closing either row of said orifices, a rock shaft provided with arms engaging the valve plate, means for adjusting theyalve plate, and means yieldingly holding the valve plate in one of its positions.

A chromatic playing attachment for harmonicas, comprising a mouth piece provided with orifices, a base provided with a pluralitv of rows of passages, a valve plate provided with a row of orifices and mounted between the mouth piece and base for adjustment to arrange its orifices in registration with the orifices in the mouth piece and one of the rows of passages in the base, a shaft rockably supported on the base and provided with arms engaging the valve plate and a push rod slidably mounted between the mouth piece and base and connected to one of said rods.

A chromatic playing attachment for harmonicas, comprisinga mouth piece provided with orifices, a base provided with a plurality of rows of passages, a valve plate provided with a row of orifices and mounted between the mouth piece and base for adjustment to arrange its orifices in registration with the orifices in the mouth piece and one of the rows of passages in the base, a shaft reckably supported on the base and provided with arms engaging the valve plate, and a push rod slidablymounted between the mouth piece and base and connected to one of said rods, said push rod being provided with downwardly extending terminals and with a flange contacting with an end of the base.

6. A musical instrument or" the character set forth, comprising a chromatic playing attachment, harmonicas. and means for detachablvsecuring the harmonicas in relativevide'd with orifices, a base provided with and a cover for the harmonicas detachably connected to the attachment.

9. A chromatic playing attachment for harmonicas, comprising a mouth piece provided with orifices, a base provided with rows of passages, valve casing plates positioned between the mouth piece and base, a valve plate arranged between the valve casing plates and provided with orifices and trans verse slots, attaching elements for securing the mouth piece base and. valve casing plates in assembled relation, said elements passing through the slots and the valve plate, and

ashers mounted upon the elements and arranged Within the slots, the washers being thicker than the valve plate to maintain the valve casing plates in proper spaced relation. 10. A chromatlc playing attachment for harmonicas, comprising a mouth piece pro.-

3 rows of passages, valve casing plates positioned between the month piece and base, a.

valve plate arranged between the valve casing plates and provided with orifices and transverse slots, attaching elements for securing the mouth piece base and valve casing plates in assembled relation, said elementspassing through the slots and the valve plat-es, and washers mounted upon the elements and arranged within the slots, the washers being thicker than the valve plate to maintain the valve casing plates in proper spaced relation and the washers'contacting with the side walls of the slots to prevent longitudinal displacement of the valve plate.

11. A chromatic playing attachment for harmonicas, comprising a mouth piece provided with a longitudinal row of orifices, a valve casing secured to and communicatits orifices in registration with the other' row ofsaid first orifices, and means for ad- JUSiLlllg the valve plate.

In testimony whereof I-hereunto afiix my signature.

WALTER SHAVER. 

